Meenakshi Iyer writes on food, fashion, technology and health for Hindustan Times. She has worked with Indian Express, Mid-Day and Reuters in the past.
Articles by Meenakshi Iyer
Want your child to excel in math? The solution lies in curiosity
A curious child is more likely to excel in math and reading, irrespective of his socio-economic background, says researchers at the University of Michigan in the US.
Updated on Apr 30, 2018 02:48 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Varun Dhawan is giving us major fitness inspiration in this exercise video
Varun Dhawan, after the success of his film October, is currently training hard for his next Kalank, which will hit the screens in April 2019.
Updated on Apr 30, 2018 02:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Weight loss on keto? Ask your dietician if it’s right for you
Weight loss at the cost of health is not the right approach. If you exercise in the gym regularly to lose weight and are looking for the best diet plan, let your dietician or nutritionist decide what suits your body type the most. Keep in mind that the popular high fat diet, also called ketogenic diet, may not be for everybody.
Updated on Apr 29, 2018 05:30 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
For a healthier, sweeter than sugar option, try the low-calorie monk fruit
Looking for a natural sweetener to replace sugar from your diet? You could substitute sugar with the low-calorie, healthier monk fruit. Native to south east Asia, its sweetener is extracted after removing the seeds and skin by crushing the fruit.
Updated on Apr 27, 2018 08:56 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Healthy, but overweight? Here’s why you should still worry
Are you overweight but don’t have high blood pressure or any other heart ailment? You should still think of losing weight and take care of your fitness. Here’s why.
Updated on Apr 26, 2018 10:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Skin care tip of the day, replace sugar with herbs, spices to look younger
Skin care tip of the day: Stay away from sugar. Apart from obvious health hazards, it is also linked to early aging. If your diet has excess sugar, you could be starting at wrinkles, deep lines and sagging skin soon.
Updated on Apr 26, 2018 09:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Healthy or unhealthy? Avoid these 10 good food from your diet to stay fit
Your weight loss and fitness plans will hit a dead end if you are not careful about your diet. If you exercise regularly, it is also important to eat healthy. Here’s a list of 10 food items that are marketed as healthy but actually are very unhealthy for you.
Updated on Apr 25, 2018 12:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Coffee in pregnancy can make children gain weight, swap caffeine with these
If you are pregnant, your gynaecologist will advise you cut out coffee and alcohol from your diet. The caffeine in the coffee or any caffeinated drink is absorbed by the bloodstream and distributed to the tissues.
Updated on Apr 24, 2018 03:56 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Proteins repair muscles after workout, try these 6 plant-based sources
A good workout is only half job done. You need to follow it up with proteins to see some visible weight loss results. Proteins are the building blocks of the body. They are required for the maintenance of our tissues, muscles, blood cells, hormones, among others.
Updated on Apr 24, 2018 01:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Want lean muscles in just 8 classes? Try this cult New York barre workout
Barre workout is the new rage all over the world. It promises crazy results and lean body (no wonder it’s popular with the Hollywood crowd); New York’s Physique 57 claims to give you results in eight classes. Impressive, but is it possible? We find out.
Updated on Apr 25, 2018 03:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai | Meenakshi Iyer
Fish is the healthiest food you can include in your diet. Here’s why
When it comes to reaching your weight loss goals, most fitness experts would say you should include fish in your diet. Now, one study suggests that fish is also linked to better long-term neurological health, thanks to a protein called parvalbumin which is found in different fish species.
Updated on Apr 23, 2018 05:56 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai | Meenakshi Iyer
Fear exercise after a heart attack? This study will motivate you
According to a new study, becoming physically active after a heart attack halved the risk of death within four years.
Updated on Apr 23, 2018 08:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
If your husband hates cooking, show him this study. He will start loving it
We spend a lot of our time every day thinking about our food and nutrition. And the best way to make our food intake count towards good health is by cooking your own food. According to the lead author of the study, the impact of developing cooking skills early in life is more visible in adulthood.
Updated on Apr 18, 2018 06:05 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Anaesthesia scare: New study says it does not lower IQ in kids below 3 years of age
This latest study suggests that there is no evidence to prove that children who are exposed to anaesthesia had lower intelligence level than those who did not have it. Published in the journal Anaesthesiology, the study said that the warning was based on several preclinical animal studies and not on human studies.
Updated on Apr 18, 2018 04:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Air pollution is one of the leading cause of deaths, ahead of alcohol abuse and BP
Don’t believe us? These figures on air pollution will convince you. More than 95% of the world’s population is breathing unhealthy air, with India and China together contributing to over 50% of global deaths attributed to pollution, a new report found.
Updated on Apr 18, 2018 03:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Paleo, Keto or raw food? All you need to know which diet suits you the most
Is your weight loss plan going nowhere because you are confused about all the fad diets you see on Instagram? Want to know which is the right one for your body? Here’s a quick nutritionist-approved guide to four popular fad diets: Paleo, Keto, juice cleanse and raw food.
Updated on Apr 18, 2018 01:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Are you eating too much sugar? Don’t ignore these 4 warning signs
Sugar addiction could play havoc with your system. Constant break outs, mood swings, feelings of anxiety are all signs that you are binging on sugary treats. Here are more subtle signs that you’re eating too much sugar and ways to fix it.
Updated on Apr 17, 2018 02:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Weight loss fail: Before spending hours in the gym, fix this problem first
Your weight loss goals are not easy to achieve. If you feel that despite sweating it out in the gym, you’re unable to see the results on the scale, the answer could be in your metabolism. Ditch bad habits such as skipping meals or drinking less water. Here are some tips to reach your fitness goals.
Updated on Apr 17, 2018 11:07 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Snake diet: This diet fad claims eating like a snake can help you lose weight
The Snake Diet follows a three-step approach. In the first phase, you fast for 48-hours and use apple cider vinegar and “snake juice” (which is referred to as an “essential mineral replacement”) to help clear toxins from your liver. In the second phase, you follow a flexible fasting routine, and in the third, you start listening to your body’s natural hunger cues.
Updated on Apr 03, 2018 09:42 AM IST
The Instagram diet: Is eating for ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ healthy?
Our Instagram feeds are full of beautiful food shots, and most of them are indulgent, calorific and thus unhealthy. So, are we eating to satiate our hunger or are we eating to show off to our hundreds and thousands of followers.
Updated on Mar 27, 2018 01:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai | Meenakshi Iyer
10 scientifically proven, healthy mood-enhancing foods. Load up on these, stay happy
When you’re feeling low or dull, junk food may seem like an easy choice. But you can pick from these 10 healthy mood-enhancing foods instead.
Updated on Mar 23, 2018 08:42 AM IST
Khoja food: This lesser-known cousin of Bohri cuisine celebrates a rich Iranian heritage
From kheema samosas, paaya to raan and muthiya, Khoja food is defined by the simplicity of its flavours. Though it doesn’t follow the same dining traditions as Bohri cuisine, Khoja food has the power to bring the community and families together.
Updated on Feb 27, 2018 09:35 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai | Meenakshi Iyer
OPOS recipes: Gajar halwa in 10 minutes, chicken tikka masala in 7. Try it
OPOS, short for One Pot One Shot, is a cooking style developed by B Ramakrishnan from Chennai and his mini army of followers (from across the world) on Facebook. Try these three easy recipes in OPOS style.
Updated on Feb 27, 2018 09:36 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
OPOS: This cooking style is revolutionising Indian food, with just a pressure cooker
OPOS, which stands for One Pot One Shot, is a cooking style developed by B Ramakrishnan from Chennai and his mini army of followers (from across the world) on Facebook. It promises a chicken biryani in 6 minutes, a mutton biryani in 12 minutes. Sounds impossible? Try it to believe it.
Updated on Feb 20, 2018 03:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Raghavendra Rathore on bandhgala’s evolution from a royal attire to a must-have for Indian men
Designer Raghavendra Rathore is known for his take on the classic bandhgala and reviving this age-old, traditional outfit for men. Today, an Indian wedding is incomplete without the groom donning one. Even Bollywood actors like Saif Ali Khan, Anil Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput, and more recently, cricketer Virat Kohli are often spotted in his creations.
Updated on Feb 15, 2018 09:29 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai | Meenakshi Iyer
Meet the Food Doctor: Nutritionist Ian Marber says fat is good for us. Here’s why
Ian Marber is a renowned nutritionist and fitness enthusiast. He’s on a mission to make healthy food accessible through his books, TV shows and his superfoods initiative.
Updated on Feb 01, 2018 09:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai | Meenakshi Iyer
Imbolc and Blue Moon: You’ve probably never heard of these Wicca festivals. Here’s why
On January 31, when the whole world will admire the Blue Moon, a rare astronomical occurrence, Wiccans in Mumbai will worship the Moon Goddess and quick of week-long Wicca festivities.
Updated on Jan 31, 2018 11:09 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai | Meenakshi Iyer
Meet self-taught Mumbai home baker who is now part of a Michelin-starred hotel in UK
Mumbai’s Stephanie Lobo moved from being a home baker in the city to a professional kitchen with sheer perseverance and hard work. The 33-year-old started with her home bakery Pixie Mojo in 2012 and today she’s part of the patisserie team at The Chester Grosvenor in England.
Updated on Jan 21, 2018 09:25 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
Here are 8 bizarre food trends that we need to leave behind in 2017
Seriously, let’s stop being obsessed about how our food looks and think more about how it tastes.
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 09:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer
If you love coffee then Melbourne is your go-to city. Here are 5 best spots to get a cuppa
It’s hard to find a bad cup of coffee in Melbourne. But here are some of the best that the city has to offer.
Updated on Dec 12, 2017 08:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Meenakshi Iyer